Ilyinsky Potato: Variety Description, Characteristics, and Photos

In the description of the "Ilyinsky" potato variety (see photo below), producers point to the plant's stable yield even under unfavorable climatic conditions, such as drought and high temperatures. Reviews of the tubers' quality and ability to produce a stable yield are excellent.The Ilyinsky potato variety (see photo below) is a Russian subspecies bred specifically for the central regions of our vast country. The seed description specifies the preferred growing locations for the tubers:

1. Voronezh.
2. Lipetsk.
3. Belgorod.
4. Voronezh region.

There are numerous reviews online about the successful cultivation of this subspecies in small garden plots and summer cottages in the Moscow region.

Ilyinsky Potato: tubers, shoots, yield

This variety belongs to the mid-early subspecies of the vegetable and has a short ripening period—young tubers can be enjoyed as early as July. The stated technical maturity of the fruits is 70-80 days after planting. Its yield is average, which is compensated by the large number of tubers in the nest. Thus, under favorable conditions, one square meter can yield up to 5 kg of good, fluffy potatoes.

Bush

The plant's shoots are semi-erect, medium-height, and spreading. They have medium-sized, bright green leaves. The "Ilyinsky" potato variety produces light purple flowers, gathered in small rosettes.

Fruit

By the time they reach maturity, they weigh up to 160 g, have a distinctly dark pink skin, and snow-white flesh. The eyes are moderately prominent, and light brown "freckles" often appear on the surface of the tubers.

Ripe tubers contain up to 18% starch, making them suitable for all types of cooking. Ideal for those who prefer crispy vegetables, the high dry matter content of Ilyinsky potatoes makes excellent chips. The flesh does not darken when cooked, remaining as white as the raw product.

Rules for growing the Ilyinsky potato variety

The following crops are good predecessors for planting tubers of this species:

• perennials;
• annual herbs;
• winter wheat;
• legumes;
• flax.

If planting is planned on sandy soil, lupine should be used as green manure.

Plantings should be spaced 60 cm apart, with row spacing no greater than 35 cm. Care should be taken to prevent a crust from forming on the soil surface and to prevent weeds from choking the plants. High hilling of the bushes is essential.

Diseases and pests

Of the insects, you should be wary of the Colorado potato beetle; you can fight this “predator” with chemicals or folk remedies.

The developers of the variety note in its description that the Ilyinsky potato is often affected by late blight. The disease is incurable, but it can be stopped by pruning the affected plants. To do this, spray the shoots with a solution of Bordeaux mixture or potassium permanganate. Chemical treatments can also be used:

1. "Oxychom";
2. "Ridomil Gold MC";
3. "Ridomil MC".

Potatoes of this subspecies are often affected by the golden nematode. Experts recommend treating affected plants with the following products:

• "Thunderbolt";
• "Gromoboy-1"
• Medvettox.

The Ilyinsky potato variety has been considered the ideal plant for beginning gardeners and farmers for years due to its low maintenance and excellent shelf life—it perfectly retains its flavor and technical characteristics until the next harvest, accounting for almost 93% of the harvested crop.

Reviews

Nikolai Ivanovich, Moscow region:

"I thought 'Ilyinsky' wasn't zoned here, but I decided to give it a try. I brought back a few buckets from friends in Lipetsk—the owners had been raving about it. But their predictions weren't met, and I got a wonderful harvest in the very first year. The flavor is much better than the usual varieties I've been growing at my dacha for years."

Ekaterina Vasilievna, Voronezh:

"I love the Ilyinsky variety because you can dig up the bushes as early as mid-July and delight your loved ones with a young, high-quality harvest—the tubers are delicious both with butter and in first courses."

Vadim Petrovich, Volgograd:

"Our climate has gotten worse lately, and to get a good harvest, we have to work hard—weeding, hilling, and watering. Our dacha is far from the main water supply, so we have to water the plants with buckets from the well. A neighbor recommended the Ilyinsky potato variety. He said there was no need to water. I wasn't quite convinced, but I dug a bucket of seed into my garden beds. It was a wonderful experience—the potatoes were perfect, and I didn't have to water them—they tasted great, and all the potatoes were perfect, clean and even."